Kitchen confidential: Cafe Nouveau

What is now known as Cafe Nouveau started as someone's house, built in the Spanish bungalow style of the 1920s.

Richard Quinn/Special to the Star Tes Wolf stands at the entry way of Cafe Nouveau. Wolf owns the restaurant with life partner Carlos Acevez. The cafe was closed for 10 months for renovations after a kitchen fire. It reopened Monday.

Ventura County Star

Richard Quinn/Special to the Star Tes Wolf points out improvements made on the patio of Cafe Nouveau in midtown Ventura. The restaurant, which Wolf owns with life partner Carlos Acevez, was closed for 10 months following a kitchen fire. It reopened Monday.

Ventura County Star

Carlos Acevez (from right), owner of Cafe Nouveau in midtown Ventura, welcomes diners Sandra Ropes, her mother Asunción Sanchez, and her brother, Saul Sanchez, to his restaurant on the first day of business after being closed for 10 months for renovations after a fire in the kitchen.

Ventura County Star

photos by Richard Quinn/Special to the Star Waitress Jackie Braley (left) takes orders from Lou and Bev Cunningham at Cafe Nouveau in midtown Ventura. The Cunninghams were the first customers to eat at the cafe after it was closed for 10 months for renovations following a kitchen fire. It reopened Monday.

Ventura County Star

Richard Quinn/Special to the Star Waitress Jackie Braley takes food from the kitchen to waiting diners at Cafe Nouveau in midtown Ventura. The restaurant was closed for 10 months for renovations following a kitchen fire. It reopened Monday.

Ventura County Star

Richard Quinn/Special to the Star Margarito Hernandez, a cook at Cafe Nouveau in midtown Ventura, grills brioche French toast in the restaurant's kitchen. The cafe reopened Monday after being closed for 10 months for renovations following a kitchen fire.

Ventura County Star

Richard Quinn/Special to the Star A newly installed crosswalk allows easy access to a city lot across Thompson Blvd. from Cafe Nouveau in midtown Ventura. Ventura, Calif./12-10-12